Africa specialist Every1Mobile raises $1.7 million in angel investment

Every1Mobile2Every1Mobile (E1M), which specialises in building mass audiences via mobile in sub-Saharan Africa, announced today (12th June) that it has raised $1.7m in angel investment.

Every1Mobile, founded in 2010, uses the power of mobile-enabled social networks to transform how organisations engage with young people aged 15-35 in sub-Saharan Africa and other emerging markets. E1M’s ultimate aim is to help young people in emerging markets enter the formal economy. The Company runs nine mobile sites covering Education, Health, Jobs and Entertainment.

The Company already records over 3 million monthly visits to its sites and serves 25 million pages each month. Users are equally split between male and female across South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, Kenya and Zimbabwe.

“Mobile social networks in Africa allow us to engage with a vast, previously inaccessible audience of young people. The mobile phone has the potential to revolutionise access in emerging markets to information services across learning, health, agriculture, financial literacy, business support and sustainable livelihoods,” said ” Algy Williams, CEO of Every1Mobile.

One in five Britons want Google Glass banned

Google_glassA new study has revealed that one in five people in the UK want Google Glass banned, even though more than eight million Britons already use wearable technology.

The report by Rackspace and the Centre for Creative and Social Technoloogy (CAST) at Goldsmiths, University of London was conducted with 4,000 respondents and underscores the privacy concerns that people have with what many consider to be invasive technology.

Other findings were that more than eight million Britons already wear some form of fitness monitor, smart watch, wearable camera, smart clothing or tracking device and demonstrates how divisive this type of technology has become. Some embrace it wholeheartedly, others think it is the devil’s work.

While 20% want Google Glass banned, 15% intend to buy Google Glass as soon as it goes on general sale in 2014 and nearly 40% intend to use these these devices once they have obtained critical mass.

Rather more worryingly, the study also reports that 15% of UK adults use wearable devices to help improve their love life. Try as I may, I have tried to imagine that but it means my brain is now working in ways that I’d prefer it not to.

There again, wearing Google Glass while on the job may have some positive developments. It doesn’t matter where you get your appetite from (as you look at the streamed video in literally your mind’s eye), as long as you eat at home.

The Moscow Startup Village evokes the spirit of Woodstock

skolkovo_startupvillageIt’s early in the morning at a ‘sprawling’ location on the outskirts of Moscow and the main stage is pumping out 1990s rock by the Young Radicals.

Queues are forming and the first act is up in two hours, it’s like any other MittelEurope summer festival, but this one is different. For a start, there are no bands, there are definitely no drugs and the strongest intoxicant on offer is a cup of milky faux-capuccino. Continue reading

London’s Tech City growth stunted by talent and capital shortage

tech_city_london
On the day of the launch of the annual Shoreditch Digital festival, a new report says that a shortage of skilled workers and a lack of funding is holding back the growth of London’s Tech City.

The ‘Tech City Futures’ Report was produced by reseearch company GfK and surveyed London’s businesses based out of Tech City. More than three quarters (77%) say a lack of skilled workers is restricting their growth
A third (33%) believe a lack of access to capital is hindering their business, and a similar number (29%) say as a consequence their company is missing significant business opportunities to expand. Continue reading

Dropifi is first African company to join #500Strong Accelerator Program

dropifi Ghanaian startup Dropifi has become the first African company to join the 500 Startups Accelerator Program in Silicon Valley.

Founded in 2011 and graduates of the impressive Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST), the company will spend three months at 500 Start Ups head office in Mountain View and an extra month taking part in the program’s Demo Days and final investor meetings. Continue reading